Conveyer.



No. 896,029, PATENTE D AUG. 11, 1908.

0. W. LEVALLEY. GONVEYER;

APPLICATION FILED D130, 2, 1907.

k 5 SHEETSSHEET l.-

gmocwio'r,

' G. W. LEV'ALLEY.

PATENTED AUG. 11, I908.

CONVEYER APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 2, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H Xi M No. 896,029. i

G. W. LEVALLEY.

z CGNVEYER. APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 2, 1907.

PATENTED AUG, 11, 1908 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Y avwewcoz Witnesses v fim 4 6 AVAILABLE coPY CHRISTOPHER W. LEVALLEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

No. eeaoee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CONVEYER.

Patented Au 1, 1908.

Application filed December 2, 1907. Serial No. 0%,789.

hi .T 0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPH R W. LE- VALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to endless con veyers or elevators usually employed for transporting packages frornone floor or level of an apartment to another, and particularly to conveyors of the single strand or line ofbelting type. Elevators of this character usually have both runs or branches of the endless belt travel in a plane that is adjacent to and parallel witha wall surface, thoughthis is not essential. From this belt are suspended a series of swinging load carriers pivotally connected with the belting in any'desired way. Examples of this type of elevator or conveyor are described-and illustrated in my Patents No. 799,993 of September 19, 1905 and No. 832,986 of October 9, 1906.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of an elevator embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower part of the elevator. Figs. 3 and 4 are edge views of the parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. Fig. 5 is a front view and Fig.6 is an edge view of the frame-piece or support for the cross-over steadying mechanism arranged adjacent to the head wheel. Fig. 7 is a front view, Fig. 8, a slde view, and

Fig. 9, an inverted plan view of the tightening device for thc steadying cross-over chain.

In the accon'ipanying drawings'5 designates the endless element of the elevator, which is represented as being formed of a series of articulate sprocket links constituting a single strand or line of chain belting. This is supported upon suitable head and foot wheels designated, respectively, 4 and 3, which are supported in suitable f rame-work located at the opposite ends of the apparatus. The elevator extends through the structure from floor to floor, suitable means for loading and unloading being provided at different levels; but it has not been deemed necessary to indicate these parts nor any portions of the structure in which theelevator is ar ranged. The line of endless belting supports and moves a series of package or -which rest the loads to be moved.

may be variously shaped to suit the characthose illustrated in my aforesaid patents, though having specific features of difference that are to be pointed out. Each carrier is pivotally connected, by pin on bolt 38, with a link'7 of s )ecial construction constituting a part of the line of belting 5. The carriers are supported so as to. swing freely upon their pivotal supports in order that tl'ieyshall maintain upright positions as they pass the head and foot wheels. respectively, as is common in this ty 0 of elevator. As shown, each carrier is provided with a serics of outward extending fingers or supports 48, 'constituting a sort of platform rllllpflll iese ter of the packages or articles to be handled.

The frame of each carrier is extended upward beyond its pivot 38 to form a stcudying arm 0, at the upper end of which is supported a wheel or roller 11). The carrier is preferahly provided at some point below the pin 3% with another roller 45. These two rollers, 11) and ti are arranged to run in the spaces, 47, between the'uprig'htbar H, H of the supportii-i-g i'raine w i-irk of the elevator. The 'er-tica l'u pnnfiflown runs or branches of the belting 5 are also situated in the ways 47. The upright bars are preferably of channel form, and their outer surfaces constitute bearings against which run the rollers 11, supported at the lower ends of the elevators 6 and arranged with their axes of rotation at right angles to the axes of the rollers 10 and 45.

The inner bars 8 terminate just above the foot wheel'fi' and have connected with their lower ends-guides 12, arranged to direct the rollers 10 and 45, particularly the former,

into the channels 47, as the carriers start on their upward travels after having made the turns at the lower end of the elevator. it will be understood that an elevator, such as is being described, is adapted to run in either direction as may be desired, therefore each of the inner bars 8 is provided with a guide 12 such as has been described.

. Power to drive the elevator is transmitted from one of the turning sprocket wheels, preferably the head wheel 4:. designates the main power shaft upon which are mount ed thefast and loose pulleys 49, -19. This shaft, which is suitably supported in the head article carriers 6,111 many respects slmilarto frame-work, carries a worm 28 that meshes with a worm wheel 27 secured to the shaft 26 upon which is mounted the sprocket wheel 4.

In operating conveying apparatus of the kind herein illustrated it is customary to load the carriers as they move upward and to unload them at the desired place as theyis makes it are moving downward, and t necessar that the loaded carriers shall pass the hea turning wheel,.4, crossing'from the upwardly moving to the downwardly moving branches of the elevator. It has been found very desirable to steady the carriers while making thecross over movements just referredto in order to prevent the swinging of the carriers, which might endanger the loads supported thereby, as well as prevent the guiding wheels and 45 from properly entering the ways 47 as they begin to move downward.

I have devised a guiding and steadying mechanism that is located above the head wheel 4 so as to engage with the roller 10 at being provided with attachments for engagiilg with the rollers 10 of the carriers.

The frame 13, which is preferably a sin le piece of-casting, .is supported between t e up er ends of the outer vertical'guide bars 8, it eing provided with brackets 41' that are bolted to the guide bars or other supporting frame-work. From the base or back plate, 42, of the-frame 13 there extends a forwardly projecting curvedbracket 15 of flange-like construction;- and so shaped that when the .coursebeing in fpart gui ed and frame 1s set in place its outer face is substantially parallel with the pitch line of the up er portionof the wheel4. Upon this bra'c et or flange 15 there is supported a'channel 16 adapted to constitute a guide or track for the ufpper branch 'of the steadying chain belt14. I desircd, thechannel may be provided with a steel lining or wearing band 51. The frame 13 is provided along its upper edge with an overhanging flange 43 arranged to cover and.

guard the upper branch or run of the guide Cltam.

:20, 20" indicate sprocket wheels mounted upon shafts 21 and su ported in the frame 18, near the sides t ere'of. With thesewheels the guiding beltin 14 enga es, its

irecte thereby. One 0 the Wheels is positively actuated from a suitable source of flpower,

thus ccnstitutin a driver for the crhss over guide 1 The sha ts upop which the sprocket wheels 20, 20 are mounted ar'supported-in bearings 22 carried by the frame-piece 13,

and that shaft on which the driving sprocket 20 is mounted is extended rearwardly 'as indicated in Fig. 3, where it is mounted in suitable supports 52, and carries a spur pinion 23. This pinion is in gear, throu h an idler 24, with the,spur pinion 25 on t e driven shaft 26. This shaft as has been ex-' plained, carries the turning sprocket wheel 4 for the elevator or conveyer and is itself positively driven.- 1 I The lower or idle run or branch of the guiding chain is in engagement with a tightlelning device by means of which the chain is e tig tening device, designated as a whole by 17, is arranged to be supported'adjustably upon the frame-piece 13, the latter being pro vided with a centrally disposed web portion 44 arranged between the main part of the back plate 42 and the arch-shaped section of the frame-piece, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The adjustable tension piece 17 is provided with a forwardly extending curved flan e or bracket 33, upon which is supported a c annel 34 constituting the guide for the lower branch or run of the chain 14; and with a bracket or lug 32 extending rearward and adapted to project through an aperture 52 in the Web 44 of the frame-piece 13. This bracket lies below a bracket or lug 30 that extends rearwardly from the frame-piece 13, and each of these brackets, 30 and 32, is'perforated to receive an adjusting or take-up screw by which the position of the tensiondevice 1'7 is controlled.- I

19, 19 indicate bolts which pass through apertures 31 in the take-up or tension-piece 17, and through slots 18 in the web 44 of the position of the part 17'issecured, after it has een adjusted.

Certain of the links of the chain 14 are of I I special construction, being provided with Wings 54, 54, so shaped that a pair of them constitutes a seat for a roller 10 during the time that the chain is in engagement with l the curved guide 15 or the channel-which.

may be, carried thereby. The wings sepa rate somewhat as they pass a sprocket wheel, 20, 20 thus enlarging the space between them, and insuring that the rollers 10- shall easily 'them.

While I have illustrated and described the enter or leave the spaces between i endless, flexible guiding device as being 10- cated above the headwheel, this being for many reasons the preferred location, it is a parent that it could be arranged below tl at wheel, in which event the branch or run of the flexible endless guide that is, operative would engage witha roller or projection of its pivotal connection 38 with t e chain or .the carrier located at a suitable oint below I 80 pit under proper tension. This tension or- 105" heme-piece 13, and by means of which the,

I belt The upperends of 'i guide bars 8 are prefer, curved connecting piece The frame-work at the 'le.

"- apparatus, for supporting the for allowing the carriers to cross of any usual or preferred em l. have represented it sin y eeieo pieces 56, 56 on a the v :el he nine 1', guides and frame pisses. 11 T 1 1 Whit), the piece 56 serves as a guide r l. the eerriers move in the bearing roller l of tile ens rim: run to the down run of ter is moved across from one run. bl ing guide for vator-to the other; while the b right ZLS the;

:5 serves to guide or direct the 1 past the proper course. d bv t" The curved connecting piece nbmet upper end of the apparatus seiw eli: and in and support for the lower PL 2: carriers, the rollers it beer the carriers make their cro Inents at the upper end oi also serves to direct or H 1. into the Ways or ineis u com :0,- V

25 right frame pieces 8, s". e "guide with which the c The guiding, and steadying .pted to engage arranger "to timed in its movement with re rrier it crosses over from I, carrier chain 5, that the brand: of the eonveyer to another,- snbstnnalways in position to receive the re. es set forth. 1

150 other projection provided to e. 1th er, the minbinetion of an as them, {LS ll; comes opposite the 1 on. 1 heel for supporting the belt, of the stendying device. .y connei'zted with the bolt,

While I have shown my invention applied i the ('fiili-BI' it to a single strand elevator, which the in tron; one run of 3cproveinents herein 'deseribedhnve been "vevei" to existing, eonsisting of an pecially devised, it evident that they s e "1: iii ivl'iioh a projection of the applicable to elevators or eonveyers in winch 3 is adapted to engn substantially for each carrier extending upward beyond ots and extending to one side of the plane in are employed two sets oi endless chain 0'- belting es the supporting and for the carriers for at ielesiv e eonvever.

.ieel by WlliCll the lri en belt, a turning 3 port and which project to one s belt is supported, carrier mounted on the lane in Which the twobrenelies'ol each of it 'ible uide located ad's.-

"tirg' tre veil n, n t my present in. U.

the strands oi cliain or be elevator of this type, but with improvements, being illustrz Patent No. 220,123? to 7;. W. dated September 30, 1879.

What I claim is 2- 1. In a eonveyer, the combination of an endless belt, a series of carriers pivotelly e0nnected therewith, free to swing on their pivand arranged to he Ctlllltfi nsit i', no enrmeetions for n Wing the said guide in properl timed ;eint-ions with eonveyer belt, substantially as set forth.

7. in s eonveyer, the combination with an endless belt, a turning; Wheel for supporting the belt end a series of article carriers pivotelly connected with the belt and moved thereby, the carriers being provided with stendying rejections, of guiding and steedying tevice for the carriers as they move past the said wi'ieel from one run of the (conveyor to another comprising an endless Liln it conveyor, the comhinntion of o.- eimin and. projee ing attachments carried belt, n series of carriers pivotnlly connected tlmreliv and :irien d to constitute seats for 1;.5 therewith, free to turn on their pivots and L' ritihl 'fililjCbviUilS oi the carriers, susstzuv errllnged to one side of the plsne in which tniliv as set forth. 1

which the belt travels, and n stendying guide its pivotal connection with the belt, arranged to maintain the carrier in its upright position wlnle being moved, substantially as set forth.

tho-bolt travels, a supporting L turning 8. lfl1tCiiIlV-- ft/F,i l wltejl with which the belt in endless {M one ms. one run. 115

hasetof riers pivotall connected with the belt and moved there y, the carriers being provided with steadying projections, of an endless flexible and movable guide for the carriers as they pass the said wheel from one run of the conveyor to another, comprising an endless chain and wings carried by the links of the chain and disposed to form seats in which the said projections of the carriers rest, and suppors for the said guide, substantially as set forth. v

9. In conveyer, the combination with an endless belt, a turning wheel for sup or'ting the belt, and a set of'carriers ivotally connectedwith the belt and moved thereby, of a guide for steadying the carriers as they pass the said Wheel from one run; of the conveyor to another, comprising an endless belt, and means for maintaining thesaid belt guide under tension, substantially as set forth.

, 10. In a conveyer, the combination of an endless belt, a turnin head wheel for supporting the belt, a set 0% carriers pivotally con-- nected with and moved by the belt, an endless belting adapted to engage with the said car riers and steady them as they cross the head wheel from one run of the conveyer to the other, and a frame 111 which thec'ross-over guide is supported ad'acent to the turning head wheel, substantially as set forth. I 11. In a conveyor, the conibinationwith an endless belt, a supporting head wheeland carriers pivotally connected with the belt, of a cross-over guide for the carriers located adjacent to the head wheel comprising an endless chain with which the carriers engage while making their cross-over movements frompne run of the conveyer to an other, and supports for the said chain arranged to dispose the operative branch or run thereof substantially parallel with the pitch line of the upper part of the head wheeLIsubstantially as set forth; r 12. endless chain, a turning wheel, a set of can riers pivotall connected with the belt and y, steadying arms connected withthe carriers and extending upward ben a conveyer, the combination of'an moved there yon'd their I and a flexi l e endless guide with which the ,said stea'dymg armsengage as-the cprriers' crossover guide ad ustably supported by the said frame, substantially as set forth.

14. In a conveyor, the combination of an endless belt, a head wheel for su porting the belt, a set of carriers for articles pivotally connected with the belt, a cross-over guide for the carriers located adjacent to the head wheel and consistingof an endless flexible chain or belting, driving gearing for turning the head wheel and driving gearing for turn- CHRISTOPHER wit er, f

Witnesses:

J. S. BARKER,

GEo. B. Prr'rs.

plvotal connections with the belt, v

wheel, and a take u or tension device for the 6 Gross-over move-g..-

pass the head'wheel, 1 comprising m endless chain and projecting wings or attachments carried thereby and arranged to constltute steadying arms, substantially as guide arranged to sustain the ac porting carrier pive belt, of' a cross-T the said carrier as it... the onveyor :to the mg the cross-over guide arranged to properly I Q time its movementswith reference to the 

